Shoe polishing apparatus



June 13, 1961 w. R. BURNSIDE SHOE POLISHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 27, 1959 INVENTOR.

I June 13, 1961 w. R. BURNSIDE 2,987,750

SHOE POLISHING APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 link INVENTOR. WADE P. BURNS I DE June 13, 1961 w. R. BURNSIDE SHOE POLISHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 2'7, 1959 FIG. l4-

FIG. \3

INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,987,750 SHOE POLISHING APPARATUS Wade R. Burnside, US. Army, R.A. 39376763, Hq. Co. 19th Transportation, Fort 0rd, Calif. Filed July 27, 1959, Ser. No. 829,757 4 Claims. (Cl. 15267) This invention relates generally to a device for the holding and positioning of shoes of various types during a shining operation and more particularly to such va device that disposes both of a pair of shoes together so that they may be operated upon simultaneously or nearly so as a pair in the shining operation.

In the shining of shoes, there are three essential steps comprising the operation of cleaning, applying polish and polishing. In any one of all of these steps it is desirable to treat shoes as a pair, primarily to lessen the work involved in the shining operation and to obtain a great uniformity of result.

In accomplishing this objective, a pair of shoes should be secured with a minimum of obstruction in a position which makes the shining operation convenient for the personperforming it. The shoes must also be held in a fashion such as to prevent curling and eliminate wrinkles, as much as possible. It has also been found to be convenient and time saving to be able to cause a pair of shoes so held to be releasably supported in various positions during the process so that they are more conveniently disposed to be operated upon.

It is the object of this invention to provide a shoe holding device, primarily for a shoe shining operation, that disposes both of a pair of shoes together so that they may be operated upon simultaneously or very nearly so, in many various positions convenient to a shining operation.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a support for such a shoe holder that may be used as a container therefor, a work positioning means, a seat and a holder for miscellaneous shining paraphernalia.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device as aforesaid that may be readily and simply, without the use of tools, adapted to receive either mens shoes or womens high-heeled shoes of a plurality of types and sizes.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a new and novel device of the nature aforesaid of simple, rugged and economic construction.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects of my invention will readily manifest themselves as this specification proceeds.

This specification is to be construed and interpretedin relation with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a required specific embodiment of my invention which I presently consider the best, and wherein like number of reference refer to similar parts throughout all figures. In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric surface view of my invention in a closed position.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of my invention with the lid open showing the mandrel support positioned therein.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric surface view of my invention showing the lid open and the mandrel support partially removed therefrom.

FIGURE 4 is a surface isometric view of my invention showing the lid closed and the mandrel support device in operating position.

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the back side invention, showing the drawer therein.

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of theslide plate of my invention, showing the heel depression therein.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of FIG- of my URE 4 taken on the line 7-7 in the direction of the arrows thereon.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of FIG- URE 9 taken on the line 8-8 in the direction of the arrows thereon.

FIGURE 9 is an isometric view of the .shoe holding mandrel of my device showing the'surface construction thereof.

FIGURE 'l0is an isometric view of my device showing the .shoe holding mandrel positioned in the mandrel support.

FIGURE 11 is an isometric view ofmy device showing the positioning of .shoes on the shoe-holding mandrel.

FIGURE 12 shows a pair of shoes in the mandrel of my device supported in a partially upright position.

FIGURE 13 shows a pair of shoes in the mandrel of my device supported in a horizontal position.

FIGURE 14 shows a pair of shoes supported in the mandrel of my device and held in a vertical position- Referring now to the accompanying drawingsand particularly to FIGURES l and 2, it will be seen that exteriorly my invention comprises a box-like structure '20 having a top 21, movable to an open position by reason of the hinges 23 andfastenable in a closed position by means of an ordinary buckle hasp 22. The uppermost portion of the top 21, preferably has a concave surface so that it may be more comfortably used as a seat by a human operator of my shining device. A recessed handle 24 is provided in one end of my box to facilitate carrying, and the top 21 is constructed so as tohave the projection 25 at the other end perpendicular to the hinged side, also to facilitate the handling of the device. I prefer toconstruct the box 20 and top 21 from wood because of its easy workability and low cost, but any other similar structurally rigidmaterial would serve the purpose of my invention.

The mandrel support -26 is composed of the three hingeably connected members, the leg member 27, the horizontal support member 28 and the vertical support member 29, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The horizontal support member 28 is rotatably fastened to the end of the box 20, opposite the top overhand 25, by the hinges 30 so that the member will open outward to a horizontal position and fold inward to a horizontal, or. nearly horizontal, position and be contained within the box -20as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The vertical support member 29 is hingeably connected with the horizontal support member 28, as illustrated, and is so mitered in relation to the mitered abutting edge of the horizontal support member 28 as to be supported in a vertical or substantially vertical position when folded outward to the fullest extent.

The leg member 27 is hingeably connected to the lower side of the horizontal support member 28 so as to allow the horizontal member 28 to be supported upon a planar surface. The dimensions of these various members 27, 28, 29 must be such as to allow them to fold within the box 20 as required; that is, none of them must be wider than the box 20 and the horizontal member must not be longer nor the vertical member deeper than the internal dimensions of the box 20.

Both the horizontal support member 28 and the vertical support member 29 have holes 31 in the surface thereof most proximate to the top 21 of the box 20 when said members are in the assembled position, said holes '31 being adapted to receive the fastening member 32 of the mandrel 33.

The shoe holding mandrel 33 is an elongated rectangular block as illustrated in FIGURE 5 having a circular cylindrical fastening member 32 projecting from each end thereof in the direction parallel to the longer dimensions of the block as illustrated. The fastening members 32 are preferably of a cylindrical shape to fulfill the purposes hereinafter given them, and are of such size as will fit well within the holes 31 of the support members 28, 29. The mandrel 33 is provided with an elongate central spring slot 35 and two slide plate grooves;36 in the opposite longer side edges thereof,as illustrated.

I The slide plates'37 are U shaped in cross-section with inwardly projecting flanges 38 adapted to fit within the slide plate grooves 36. The size and shape of the slide plates 37 must be such as to allow the said plates to be slidably carried upon the mandrel with the inwardly projecting flanges 38 in the slide plate groove 36. Two extension springs 39 are carried within the spring slot 35 and held at one end by the pin 49 to thiermandrel 33 and at the other end fastened to each of the slide plates 37, thus tending to bias said plates toward the heel end 33A of mandrel 33.

Two'heel bails 41, shaped substantially as illustratedin i having similar properties would serve equally well. The

wire from which the heel bail 41 is constructed must be of such diameter as to grasp a shoe between the heel and upper portion as illustrated in FIGURE 10, et seq.

Two toe bails 43 are carried in holes in the slide plates 37. These toe bails 43 are shaped somewhat in the same fashion as the heel bails 41, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, et seq. Again I prefer to construct this toe bail 43 from an appropriately sized wire to substantially the shape as illustrated so that the bail will grasp the toe of the shoe between the sole and the uppor portion.

In operation the top 21 of the box is opened, the support members 28 and 29 folded out into a supporting position as illustrated in FIGURE 4, and the leg member folded down so as to support the two members 28, 29 on a planar surface. The mandrel 33 is then positioned in one of the holes 31 in the support members 28, 29. A shoe (shown in dashed lines) is then placed on the mandrel 33 with the sole, against the mandrel 33 and the heel against the heel bail 41. The toe bail 43 is then moved forward until the horizontal fastening portion 44 grasps the toe ofthe shoe in question, between the sole and upper, and holds it to the mandrel because of itsrearward bias. 'Ihe mandrel 33 is then rotated 180 degrees and the second shoe fastened in the same fashion. The pair of shoes to be operated upon is now ready for'polishing. The position of the shoes may be changed by placing the mandrel in different positions, horizontal, vertical or at an angle, all as illustrated on the accompanying drawings, particularly FIGURES 8, 9 and 10. I

In the case of womens high-heeled shoes, the fastening procedure is slightly different, as illustrated in FIGURE 13. Here te toe of the womans high-heeled shoe is fastened under the heel bail 41 and the slide plate 37 is forcedaway from the heel bail 41 until the heel of the womens shoe becomes lodged in the heel depression 45 I 'in the slide plate 37. The womans shoe is now firmly fixed and held as any other type of shoe by therbias in the slide plate 37, and may be dealt with in the same fashion as described for other shoes.

The box 20 may be provided with drawers 46 in the the lower portion to carry various shoe shining apparatus and paraphernalia.

It should be noted that from the manner of fastening a shoe upon the mandrel 33, both the toe and heel thereof will tend to be stretched against the relatively flat surface of the mandrel 33 and thus a tendency will be created to remove the usually present wrinkles and creases from a shoe being operated upon by my device.

It should also be noted that by reason of the method of positioning the mandrel 33 in the supports 28, 29, any force applied to the mandrel 33 or the shoes thereon, will create a moment tending to hold the mandrel fastening member 32 more securely within the hole 31, and any increase in such an applied force will only tend to increase this security of holding. The mandrel 33 may, however, be easily removed whenno force is applied to it.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed specific character in order thatnaspecific embodiment of my invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology and structure is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various re-arrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the essence, scope or spirit of the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

Having thusly described my invention, What I desire to protect by 'Letters Patent and, what I claim is:

1. In a shoe holding device of the nature aforesaid an elongate mandrel adapted to simultaneously hold each of a pair of'shoes and having means for fastening said mandrel to a solid support, a central spring slot in said mandrel, slide plate grooves in each of the longer side edges of said mandrel, two opposed U-shaped slide plates slidably carried on said mandrel and within said slide plate grooves, paired opposed heel bails rotatably carried near the end portion of said mandrel on the opposite sides thereof adapted to hold the heel of'a shoeftwo paired toe bails rotatably carried by each of said slide plates on the opposite sides of said mandrel adapted to hold the toe of a shoe, and spring means within said central spring slot-tending to bias said slide plate toward said heel bails.

2. In a shoe holding device of the nature aforesaid an elongate mandrel adapted to hold each of a pair of womens high-heeled shoes simultaneously and having means for attachment to a rigid support, a central spring slot in said mandrel, slide plate grooves in each of the longer side edges of said mandrel, two opposed U-shaped slide plates slidably carried on said mandrel and within said slide plate grooves, each of said slide plates having a depression adapted to receive and support the heel of a womans high-heeled shoe, paired opposed bails carried by said mandrel on the opposite sides of said mandrel adapted to hold the toe of a 'womans high-heeled shoe, and spring means within said central spring slot adapted to bias said slide plate toward said bail.

3. A shoe holding device of the nature aforesaid comprising, in combination, a containing box having a top hingeably carried by said box, means for fastening said top to said box and means for aiding the handling of said box; a mandrel support member movably carried by said box adapted to be contained within said box and to be extended from said box and having holes therein to receive the fastening member of a mandrel; means for supporting said mandrel support member in an extended position; and an elongate'mandrel adapted to' hold each of a pair of shoes in such position as to allow each shoe to be simultaneously operated upon in the polishing operation, said mandrel having fastening means at the furthest opposed ends of said mandrel adapted to fit within the holes of said support member in such fashion as to rigidly hold said mandrel in said mandrel support when said shoes are operated upon and to loosely hold said mandrel at other times, a central spring slot in said mandrel, slide plate grooves in each of the longer side edges of said mandrel, two opposed U-shaped slide plates, slidably carried on said mandrel and within said slide plate grooves, paired, opposed heel bails rotatably carried near the end portion of said mandrel on the opposite sides of said mandrel adapted to hold the heel of a shoe, said opposed toe bails 'rotatably carried by each of said side plates on opposite sides of said mandrel adapted to hold the toe of a shoe, and spring means within said central spring slot tending to bias said slide plates towards said heel bails.

4. A shoe holding device of the nature aforesaid com prising, in combinatioma containing box having a top hingeably carried by 'said box, means for fastening said top to said box and means for aiding the handling of said box; a mandrel support member movably carried by said box adapted to be contained said box and to be extended from said box and having holes therein adapted to receive the fastening member of a mandrel and means for supporting said mandrel support member in an extended position; and an elongate mandrel adapted to hold each of a pair of ladies high-heel shoes in such position as to allow each shoe to be simultaneously operated upon in the shining process, said mandrel having fastening means at the furthest opposed ends of said mandrel adapted to fit within the holes of said support member and rigidly hold said mandrel during the shining operation and loosely hold it at all other times, a central spring slot in said mandrel, slide plate grooves in each of the longer side edges of said mandrel, two opposed U-shaped 15 2,817,109

slide plates, slidably carried on said mandrel and within said slide plate grooves, each of said slide plates having a depression adapted to receive and support the heel of a ladies high-heel shoe, paired opposed bails rotatably carried by said mandrel on the opposite sides of said mandrel adapted to hold the toe of a Womans high-heel shoe, and spring means, within said central spring slot, adapted to bias said slide plates towards said bail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 374,023 Watts Nov. 29, 1887 1,193,831 Schuyler Aug. 8, 1916 Kelley Dec. 24, 1957 

